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Robbins Updates Faculty Senate on Strategic Plan, SVP Searches

Robbins Updates Faculty Senate on Strategic Plan, SVP Searches

By University Communications

October 4, 2017

Artistic rendering of the Honors College housing project.

The process to create a new strategic plan for the University of Arizona should begin in November and is expected to take about a year, President Robert C. Robbins told members of the Faculty Senate on Monday.

In his regular report to the senate, Robbins also gave a recap of last week's Arizona Board of Regents meeting, noting the board's approval of plans to develop the Honors College Housing Community on the north edge of campus. At ABOR's next meeting, which will be held Nov. 16-17 on the UA campus, the University will present its annual Operational and Financial Review, he said.

Other updates from the president:

The searches for two senior leadership positions are progressing. A search firm was selected Monday to help identify candidates for senior vice president for marketing and communication, while the search for a senior vice president for health sciences already is underway. Robbins said he hopes both searches will be concluded in early January.

The UA has retained a law firm to lead "a truly independent external evaluation" of the allegations made against a member of the basketball program's coaching staff. "They told me they will go where the evidence leads them and they'll leave no stone uncovered, which is exactly what I want," Robbins said.

In other business, the Faculty Senate's representative from the Appointed Professionals Advisory Council – Susanna Eden, assistant director of the Water Resources Research Center – gave an update on that group's activities.

She asked that members of the Faculty Senate be aware of changes that likely will result from the University Career Architecture Project, an effort that will replace the classified staff and appointed professional employment categories. Because some faculty oversee employees in those categories, their input will be required as decisions are made about job titles, job functions and salaries, she noted.

Lynn Nadel, Regents' Professor Emeritus of Psychology and chair of the faculty, asked that APAC keep the Faculty Senate informed as the effort continues.

Also on the agenda was consideration of a new degree in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, a Bachelor of Science in food safety. The senate voted to approve, following earlier nods given by ABOR, the Undergraduate Council, the Provost's Council and the College Academic Administrators Council.